Alarm circuits



J. H, DERBY ALARM CIRCUIT June zo, 1944;

Original Filed Aug'. 5, 1937 Patented June 20, 1944 UNITED STATES A,P.-;T,1.-:I\JT o1-FICE ALARM CIRCUITS John H. Derby, Scarsdale, N. Y.

Original application August 3, 1937, Serial No. 157,105. Divided and this application June 26, 1940, Serial No. 342,445

3 Claims.

This invention relates to thermostatically contr'clled re alarm Aor re control systems.

` Thermostatic circuit controlling devices for the aforementioned purposes are of two general types: Those operating upon a rise of temperature above a predetermined maximum and those operating when the temperature rises at a certain rate, the latter type being commonly referred to as rate-of-rise thermostats. Some advantages attach to the use of each of these two types of thermostatic circuit controlling devices, depending upon the place of use. For example, rate-of-rise systems, if not combined with some means for insuring their operation when the temperature reaches a predetermined maximum, do not always detect dangerous increases in temperature,` if these increases have been slow or gradual. Furthermore, these systems sometimes give false alarms for sudden increases in temperature which are not associated with dangerous conditions; for example, an updraft of hot air resulting from the removal of the cover from a kettle of boiling water or the opening of a door between two rooms of markedly different temperatures.

Ideal protection, therefore, usually demands the combination of thermostatic means operating onfthe rate-of-rise principle with thermostatic meansoperating when the temperature exceeds a predeterminedmaximum so that both the quick rise in temperatureiwhich is dangerous can be detected and also the more slow but often equally dangerous rise in temperature beyond a predetermined maximum.

Many thermostatic circuit controlling systems, both those that operate on the rate-of-rise principle and those that operate when the temperaturerises above a predetermined maximum are constructed so that they are automatically reset. There are some advantages in this, in that the system is always ready to operate.

But automatic resetting also has its disadvantages, particularly where there is no intermedi-y ate mechanically or electrically driven signal If, for example, a re starts whereV controlling devices operating on the principle of a rise of the temperature above a predetermined maximum, in the absence of intermediate, independently driven signal transmitting means, the

falling of the temperature in the neighborhood of the thermostat may not necessarily indicate that the fire has been completely taken care of and yet the thermostat may reset itself and thus fail to continue to give an alarm. It is thered fore frequently advisable to provide that the thermostatically actuated circuit controlling means, when operated, remain in operative alarm-sending condition until manually reset, in

, order to place upon the one who resets the alarm the responsibility for an inspection of the place from which the alarm was sent has been made before such resetting.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide for the maintenance of the opera- 2c' dition for operation again `when the occasion demands.

Another important `feature of the invention is the arrangement'of the parts of the thermostatically actuated circuit controlling mechanism A so that they can readily be automatically supervised.

Other objects and important features of the invention willv lappear from the following description and claims when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing.

vIn the drawing the figure is a wiring diagram of re alarm and supervisory circuits including groups of the thermostatically actuated circuit controlling devices of the present invention, the illustrated circuit arrangement being particularly designed, for use on ships.

i In the figure is shown a wiring diagram illustrating the application of the invention to `fire prevention on ships- In this diagram there is provided only .a single cabin light signal ll for each of a plurality of" cab-ins on a short corridor, it being intended. that the cabin light H0, indicating the location of thelire, be located at the junction of the shortxcorrldor,` on which the cabins are located, with the usual long corridor. Furthermore, for convenience in following the releasing the extinguishing medium, such, for

example, as water into a dry pipe system, or "foamite or carbon dioxide. See, for example, the release box disclosed in my U. vS. Letters Patent No. 1,187,135, granted,'Iurnfefly'1916.A The source of current supply |22 goes through the current permitted by the resistanceV ||2 to iiow through the alarm circuit from the source of supply |22 is, however, sufficient to energize a trouble relay magnet |24 to such an extent as to maintain the armaturev |26, constituting one member of a switch in a local trouble alarm circuit 'including an independent 'source of current |28, in` open switch condition in the absence of a break in the circuit.

VThe local vtrouble alarm circuit comprises a trouble gong |30 connected to one side |32 of the. localV circuit and through wire |34, throw switch |36, wire |38, wire |40, armature'lZS, contact |42, wires |44, |46 back to the other side |50 of the local circuit.

' Another armature switch member |52, also controlled by the trouble relay magnet |24, serves to close'a circuit through the other source of current |22,wh`en the trouble relay magnet |24 is deenergized, this other circuit comprising the contact |54, wire |56, to one main |60from the source |22 and the wire |62 from the other main |64 from the source |22 through the trouble light |66 back to the armature Vswitch member |52.

The main alarm circuit hereinabove referred to, which has at the end of the' line, in parallel with the thermostatically actuated circuit controllers, the resistance ||2 'maintaining the current flow in the alarm circuit below alarm operating level but still sufficiently highto energize the' trouble relay magnet |24, comprises the Wire |68 running through the nre signal lamp ||4 to the troubleV relay magnet |24. From the trouble relay magnet |24 awire |70 goes to switch |12, fromwhich wire |74 runs to the master relay I6. From the master relay H6 wire |76 is connected through wire |78 to themilliammeter I80l,and then through wire |82 to the main |60 from the sourceof current supply |22. The other wire |84 from the other side of the resistance ||2 goes directly't'o the other main |54 from the source of supply |22. yj

It will be seen' that when any'thermostatically actuated circuit lcloser is moved to its circuit energizing position the switch members will short circuit the resistance ||2, lthus permitting an increase of the current in the Acircuit to the fire alarm lamp ||4 andthe master relay ||6 suicien-t to operate these two forms of fire alarm.. The manner in which the resistance ||2 is short circuited is as follows:

The switch Amember 76, which is normally in opencircuit position, is' connected to the side |68 of the resistance circuit and the switch member 78 is connected to the side 84. The switch members 68 and 70 are insulated from each other.

- .When the switch members 68 and 10 moveup members 76 and 78, due to high or rising temperatures, for example in the manner described in my prior copending application Serial No. 157,105 which issued as Patent No. 2,209,193, granted July 23, 1940, of which this application is a division, there is eifected a short-circuiting of the resistance ||2 and a raising of the current flow to alarm actuating level.

When, however, the parts are in the position shown in the drawing, thatis, with the switch member 68 in engagement with the switch member l2, and the switch member l0 in engagement with the switch member 74, there being a plurality of these thermostatic circuit controllers associated with each cabin light ||0, a mere supervisory circuit is established as follows:

Current from the'main |60 leading from the wire |82 to milliammeter |80, through the wire |78 from the milliammeter, through the Wire |79 cabin light trouble relay magnet |86 through wire |87 to the switch member 72 of the upper one of the thermostatic circuit closers shown, then through the switch member 68 to the connection |88 to the switch member 72 of the next thermostatic circuit closer, through switch member 68 of the second circuit closer and through the wire |94 to the cabin light ||0 associated With this group of circuit closers. From the cabin light the supervisory current flows through the wire |96 to the switch member 70 of the lower circuit closer of this group, through Vthe switch member 74 of this circuit closer to the connection |98 to the switch member 70 of the upper circuit closer, through the switch member 74 of the upper circuit closer to a connection 206 to the wire |84 of the controller circuit and then back to the main |64 from, the source of current |22. Thus through the movable switch members 68 and 70 and the stationary members 72 and 74 of the circuit closers there is maintained a supervisory current kept below thereby.

ysource of current supply One of the trouble alarm circuits controlled by magnet |86 comprises the movable switch member y208 held normally in open circuit relation to the stationary switch member 2|0 by the supervisory current'ilowing through the magnet |86.

The stationary switch member 2|0 is connected through wire 2| 2, wire |46 to the main |50 from the auxiliary source of current Asupply |28 and the movable switch member 208 is connected through wire 2|4, Wire |38, wire |34 and trouble gongl |30 to the other main |32 from the auxiliary source of current supply |28.

The outer trouble alarm circuit controlled by theV magnet |86 comprises the movable switch member 2|6 held by the magnet |86 normally in open circuit relation to the stationary switch member 2|'8 which is connected through the trouble light 220 to the main |64 from the main |22. The movable switch member 21,6 is connected through the wire 222 to the'other main |60 from the source of currentvsupply |22.'v

As hereinabove stated, when any one of the thermostatic'circuit controlling units of a set is operated e. g. in the manner shown and described in my prior Patent No.` 2,209,193, granted July 23, 1940, the switch members 68 and 70 move up into engagement respectively with the into engagement respectively with the switchv 215:,1 switch members 76 and 78, and there is effected a short circ-uiting of the resistance ||2 and a raising of the current ow to alarm actuating level. This short circuiting of the resistance I2 takes place as follows:

Assuming that the circuit controller which has been actuated to effect the short circuiting of the resistance ||2 is the uppermost one of the group shown in the drawing, then the current, taking the course of least resistance, will iiow through the connection 226 from the side |84 of the resistance circuit to the switch member 1B, then through the switch member 'l0 and the connecting wire |98 to the switch member 'I4 of the next thermostatic circuit closer through the switch member '|0 of this second thermostatic circuit closer and the wire |96 to the cabin light 0, then through the wire |94 to the switch member 68 of the lower circuit closer through the switch member 'I2 of this circuit closer to the wire |88 connected to the switch member 68 of the circuit closer that has been operated and then through the switch member 'I6 of the operated circuit closer and wire 228 to the other side |68 of the resistance circuit, thus short circuiting the resistance |l2 through the aforedescribed low resistance shunt which includes the local signal, namely cabin light ||0.

In a similar manner each thermostatic circuit closer, when operated while the other or others remain unoperated, will effect a short circuiting of the resistance ||2 and thus a raising of the current level suciently to operate the signal light ||4, the master relay IIB which closes the circuit to the alarm gong ||8, and the release mechanism |20 which may operate any suitable automatic fire extinguishing system such as a valve admitting water to a dry pipe system, a "foamite release mechanism, etc.

The resetting magnets are arranged in parallel in a circuit which comprises the wire |84 connected to the main |64 and a second wire 230 leading to the stationary member 232 of a normally open switch 234 which is connected by wire 236 to the other main |60. When the operator at the central station closes the switch 234, 232 all of the magnets |00 are energized simultaneously. Of course this has resetting effect only on those thermostatic circuit closers which are not in set condition, the armatures |02 being free to move only when the thermostatically actuated circuit controllers are in actuated position.

Although the normally open alarm gong circuit is a local circuit at the central board and is not apt to get out of order, it can readily be supervised, as shown, by providing a shunt 240 from the wire 242, which leads from one side of the gong ||8 to the contact 244 of the normally open switch 246, this shunt 240 going through a supervisory relay magnet 248 to the wire |18 leading through the milliammeter and wire |82 to the side |60 of the circuit from the main source of current supply |22. The supervisory relay 248 has sufficient resistance to maintain the supervisory current, in the circuit thus established through the alarm gong, below gong operating level. The current, however, will be suiiicient to hold open an operating circuit through the trouble gong by holding back the amature 250 which, when released, will close a trouble gong circuit through the wire 252 which is connected to the Wire |50 on one side of the current supply |28, the armature 250 being connected to the wire |38 which, as hereinabove described, is in turn connected to the other side |32 of the trouble gong circuit.

Only two thermostatically operated circuit closers for short circuiting the resistance ||2 have been shown and described. It will be understood, however, that the cabin light ||0 may provide the local alarm or locating signal for more than two cabins each provided with a thermostatic circuit closer, all included in the supervisory circuit. It will also be understood that a plurality of cabin lights I0, each representing a group of cabins, can, without changing the invention in any way, be introduced into both the supervisory and the signal operating circuits by simply multiplying the connections illustrated.

There may be occasions when it is desired to cut out the trouble gong circuit. For this purpose the switch |36 is provided. In order to give the supervisor of the local board warning that the trouble gong circuit has been cut out a signal lamp 254 is lighted when the switch |36 is moved to its other position. Similarly, it may be desiraible at times to cut out the alarm gong. This can be done by moving the switch |12 to its other position. To give the supervisor of the switchboard warning that the alarm gong circuit has been cut out a lamp 256 is provided which is lighted when the switch |12 is moved to its cutout position.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a re alarm system, a normally closed main signal circuit comprising electrically operable signal means, a source of electric current, a trouble relay magnet and resistance suflicient to maintain the current flow in said circuit below signal operating level but high enough to energize the trouble relay magnet, a normally closed local signal circuit also connected to said source of electric current and comprising a local signal and a trouble relay magnet, said local circuit having therein resistance sucient to maintain the current flow in said circuit below the operating level for said local signal lbut high enough to keep the trouble relay magnet energized, a two-way switch and connections between said switch and said main and local circuits whereby movement thereof from one position to the. other establishes a local signal operating shunt across the resistance in the local signal circuit and establishes said local circuit in signal operating shunt relation to the resistance in the main signal circuit.

2. A fire alarm system according to claim 1 in which the resistance in the local signal circuit is constituted by the winding of the trouble relay magnet in said circuit. l

3. A re a-larm system according to claim 1 in which the local signal circuit includes a plurality of two-way switches connected in series for supervision by the supervisory current flowing therethrough when the switches are in one position but each having an independent shunt connection to the main signal circuit in its other position.

JOHN H. DERBY. 

